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OPINION

The disabilities battle is not over

Civil rights issues have dominated headlines this year, each deserving of attention. But there is one issue that tends to be overshadowed year after year – one that impacts the largest minority group in the U.S., people with disabilities.

For decades, cities and communities were inaccessible, from restaurants to public transportation and even sidewalks. The world was full of obstacles that restricted independent living for millions of Americans. I witnessed this from a young age.

Though it has been more than a decade since my father passed away, as an ambassador and board member of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation I am well aware of the progress that has been made within the research and disability communities. But a recent experience I had was particularly revelatory.

At a New York Rangers playoff game at Madison Square Garden this spring, I – accompanied by a paralyzed friend who uses a wheelchair – saw firsthand how accessibility has evolved. When I attended games with my dad after his spinal cord injury, there was no seating for people with wheelchairs. My family sat in folding chairs near the players’ entrance, and we moved aside when the Zamboni came through. This time, elevators led us to precisely where we needed to go, and clear signs directed us to the wheelchair-accessible section. It was moving to realize how much easier it has become for people in wheelchairs to enjoy experiences others take for granted.

It wasn’t always like this. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which celebrates its 25th anniversary Sunday, was crucial in combating the inequality that stood in the way of independent living for people with disabilities. Thanks to this law, there are more access ramps, improved transportation and increased protection in employment, education and housing.

But while there have been significant strides, barriers are still widespread for the 56.7 million Americans with disabilities. Many never leave their homes because of transportation difficulties. Even 25 years after the ADA was passed, many mammography and gynecological devices have not been adapted for people in wheelchairs. Accessibility needs to become more than a few adaptations in businesses and communities. People with disabilities should be able to access a restaurant from the main entrance instead of through the kitchen, have accessible bathroom stalls and not be turned away when a venue has met its “maximum capacity for wheelchairs.”

Let’s not wait another 25 years to end discrimination for the millions of Americans who deserve a world free of virtual and physical barriers. As my dad said, “It comes down to us. We have the power to make an enormous difference.”

Together, let’s make a difference.

Will Reeve is the son of the late Christopher and Dana Reeve, and is a board member of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.